Graham Alexander has made no attempt to downplay the significance of today’s meeting between Sheffield United and Scunthorpe at Bramall Lane.

But the visitors’ manager dismissed claims his players will enter the top of the table of the table clash with any extra motivation, insisting that would be disrespectful to other teams.

Alexander, whose second-placed side trail Chris Wilder’s League One leaders by five points, said: “You can see it as one of my biggest games but I don’t see any game bigger than any other because that would be doing other games a disservice.

“If you say you are going 100 per cent into Saturday’s game it implies we went into Tuesday’s (match with Walsall) at 95 per cent which wasn’t the case.

“I go into every game with 100 per cent focus and concentration to win it and the motivation will be just as strong on Saturday as it was on Tuesday.”

Scunthorpe could name Sam Mantom in their squad for the trip to South Yorkshire after the midfielder made significant progress in his battle against injury this week. Confirming the 24-year-old has resumed training, Alexander (pictured) also revealed he is considering recalls for Scott Wiseman and Conor Townsend after omitting them from the squad which faced Walsall for “tactical reasons.”

“I am aware of the situation that it is the top two teams in League One going head to head,” Alexander said. “We are going to a fantastic stadium to produce a performance we feel can win the game.

“If you speak to 22 other clubs in the division they will probably see Sheffield United as the biggest club in the division and that is what we are facing.

“Whether it is home or away they are the big fish in this division. But I have to take that out the equation, focus on the 11 that is in front of us and make sure Sheffield United have a problem to solve.”